Active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones use an 'active' combination of hardware (microphones) and firmware to make external sounds or noises sound quieter when you’re listening to your favourite music or podcasts.
Unlike passive noise isolation, which simply muffles those sounds by forming a seal around your ear with headphone ear cups or within your ear canal with in-ear tips, active noise cancellation listens out for background sounds and uses clever audio trickery to “cancel” these potentially disruptive sounds out. For a more in-depth explanation see ANC explained.
The best noise-cancelling headphones in Australia should have you covered for all forms of public transport, as anyone who's worn a pair on a flight or a train commute to and from work will tell you. ANC headphones have gone from strength-to-strength over the past couple of years, with many models improving their audio performances compared to predecessors, as well as incorporating the latest features such as Spatial Audio and 360 Reality Audio.
The pick of models below represent the greatest ANC headphones across all form factors, including over-ear and in-ear. Over-ear headphones often have superior noise-cancelling performance, as the earcups form a seal around the ears. Although in-ear buds are becoming increasingly more effective – not least because of the fact they fill the ear canal – and are a lot more portable.
Scroll down to find the best noise-cancelling headphones in Australia we've tested that are right for your needs and budget.
Top 3 best noise-cancelling headphones
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The best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy right now
Best ANC over-ear headphones
Sony has been steadily closing the noise-cancelling gap on Bose, and the new Sony WH-1000XM5 comes closer than ever to beating its rival in terms of ANC performance. This pair of XM5 headphones gets two processors, controlling eight microphones, where the XM4 predecessor model (still on sale and regularly discounted) had just one processor controlling four. The result of this upgrade in our testing is near-seamless ANC. But the Sony's overall quality would make the XM5 our #1 option even if that weren't the case.
Audio quality is superb, the 30-hour battery life (with ANC) is excellent and everything from the touch controls to the ability to tweak the EQ via the Sony Headphones Connect app is well thought out and seamlessly integrated. Call quality has also been improved greatly and there's really nothing to criticise here beyond the slightly bland styling (in our opinion, anyway) and the AU$100 price increase over the XM4.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
It truly is a close run thing between the Bose 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 (above) for the best overall noise-cancelling headphone crown, and there is no denying that Bose has the most effective active noise cancelling technology on the market. Period.
The Bose 700s reap those benefits, boasting 10 levels of ANC that can be adjusted in its Connect app and which works flawlessly to silence the majority of external sounds. Most importantly, the 700s achieve this without compromising sound quality, allowing listeners to enjoy clean, well-balanced sound reproduction. Bose’s companion app also lets you adjust the EQ for personalised audio.
We love the ultramodern design, and the slim, sexy silhouette is as much of an engineering feat as the ANC performance. We also appreciate the fact the Bose can usually be picked up for less than the Sony pair, most likely because they've been around a fair bit longer. But we need to address the elephant in the room – battery life, which at 20 hours with ANC enabled is outperformed by the Sony pair.
While this is a chink in its armour, whichever pair you choose, you won't be disappointed.
Read our full Bose 700 review.
Although the revamped design of Sennheiser's fourth generation Momentum Wireless headphones doesn't stand out quite like their classic-looking predecessor, the 60-hour battery life is a real crowd pleaser and makes this pair the one to beat. Add in the easy-going Sennheiser sound and effective noise cancelling, and the Momentum 4 are one of the most practical pairs of wireless headphones we've seen, perfectly built for a life on the road where regular charging could prove difficult.
Sennheiser's smooth and enjoyable house sound handles a wide range of music content, from pounding beats to more mellow tunes with aplomb. It has Bluetooth 5.2 and aptX Adaptive support, and there's a supplied 3.5mm cable for audiophile wired connections. ANC performance is effective, and auto Wind Noise Reduction is very impressive when stood on a windy train platform on daily work commutes.
Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review.
The latest entry in Bose's QC over-ear series is the best yet, welcoming several improvements, including better active noise cancellation, sound, and battery life. ANC is as effective as it is on the 700, blocking out nearly 90 percent of ambient sound at a high rate, but if you do want to be more aware of your surroundings, the ambient-listening mode (Aware) does a fantastic job of piping in external sounds.
The combination of proprietary TriPort acoustic architecture and a volume-optimised Active EQ gives these headphones a refined, well-balanced sound signature to enjoy most music genres. Having 24 hours of ANC playtime is also huge, and along with their lower price, makes a compelling case for choosing this pair over the 700s.
Not being able to turn off ANC means the battery will drain more quickly, but the longer 24-hour life, combined with incredible ANC performance and sound quality makes up for any shortcomings.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort 45 review.
Expensive they most certainly are, but despite the high price, there is much to love about Apple's first foray into over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. The noise-cancellation on offer only has one level (compared to the adjustable level seen on other pairs) but it works like a charm. These cans do a great job of blocking out ambient sounds, especially at the lower end of the frequency spectrum. In fact, we'd say it’s almost as good as Bose’s ANC, which is a fine showing for Apple’s first pair of over-ears.
It's not just with noise-cancellation that the AirPods Max excel with, but they sound great too, especially with the surround-sound spatial audio feature switched on. And of course, in typical Apple fashion, the design standard and build quality of the AirPods Max is so high you can almost forget that these headphones cost AU$899.
That’s a lot more than the Sony and Bose headphones higher up the list, so yes, this is a luxury purchase, but can very much be a worthwhile one.
See our full Apple AirPods Max review.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 over-ear headphones are priced the same as Sony's WH-1000XM5, but the active noise-cancellation proves ‘good’ rather than great’ — that’s to say, it will be perfectly acceptable to anyone who doesn’t insist on absolute silence, and this next-gen model are a worthy purchase if you prioritise overall sound quality.
They feel good, are beautifully constructed and are either good-looking in an understated way or a bit too understated for their own good — it depends on your taste. They have active noise-cancellation and a control app — but ‘extended functionality’ is not their thing.
They’re designed to deliver the best wireless sound this sort of money can buy, and they do. The entire frequency range hangs together well, with nothing overstated and nothing struggling for representation. Tonality is clean, consistent and entirely convincing.
If you want every wireless headphone feature under the sun, you have plenty of choice to look elsewhere. If, however, you want headphones that make the most of the digital audio information you give them, the Px7 S2 really needs to be in your thinking.
Rear our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 review.
You’re probably wondering how a pair of AU$699 (RRP) wireless headphones with adequate noise cancellation could sneak its way onto this list. The answer is simple: spatial audio. We know these are two separate talking points, but hear us out.
The YH-L700A are an excellent-sounding model that have a better 3D sound experience than the AirPods Max. They're equipped with accurate head-tracking technology and multiple well-engineered listening modes for different content. Even with spatial audio turned off, these headphones produce spacious sound with full bass presence, delivering rich lows, palpable mids, and crisp highs. And though Yamaha’s ANC won’t match what Apple, Bose, or Sony offer, it’s still effective to enjoy premium sound in most environments.
You just have to live with its large, heavy design and uneven battery life, which fluctuates when listening with 3D enabled.
Read our full Yamaha YH-L700A review.
How's this for an ANC headphones bargain: great sound, a modern and flexible design, ample features, a useful app, a full set of accessories and the best battery life in its class, all for AU$299 RRP? That's the Cleer Enduro ANC, currently the #1 spot taker on our best cheap wireless headphones list.
The Enduro ANC aren't without their foibles — there's a fair bit of wind noise in ANC mode, and they are seemingly made with smaller ears in mind — but there's no arguing about the incredible value for money. Cleer's noise-cancelling headphones are particularly good for travellers, as we got 50 hours and 15 minutes of ANC playback time form a single charge in our testing.
This puts them firmly at the head of the pack, and is a statement figure we think makes the other sacrifices worthwhile.
Read our full Cleer Enduro ANC review.
Like the Cleer Enduro ANC (above), Anker's Soundcore Space Q45 are quite the bargain with a remarkable set of features and effective ANC performance. They offer remarkable battery life, quality ANC, and superb sound powered by upmarket specs and special features. Sound quality has a liveliness that pulls listeners to the front row of the performance of whatever music they're listening to. The sonic soundstage is wide and immersive, and has a ramped up low end, rich mids and crisp highs.
Anker engineered the Space Q45 with a versatile Ambient Sound mode that features dual settings for both Noise Cancellation and Transparency. And they all work well when used in proper situations. These headphones are not without some flaws, it must be said, but nevertheless they have compelling sound and noise neutralisation for half the price of Bose and Sony’s flagship models and are well worth tracking down.
Read the full Anker Soundcore Space Q45 review.
Best ANC earbuds
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are top of the best noise-cancelling earbuds list for their outstanding ANC capabilities. They perform even better than the original QC Earbuds (that are still available) and are a remarkable follow-up that delivers better sound, great call quality, and unrivalled ANC. Proprietary technologies like ActiveSense and CustomTune balance sound and noise neutralisation extremely well.
Bose’s redesign also makes these buds less of an eyesore compared to the original, and only the high price and mediocre battery life count against them. CustomTune automatically calibrates ANC and the sound frequency profile to the unique properties of your ear and optimal performance that's right for you. Sadly, there's no wireless audio codec support for aptX or LDAC.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review.
Apple's next-gen AirPods Pro 2 have arrived, bringing significant upgrades to the popular original to take performance to the next level. Externally, they look pretty similar to the first generation but battery life has been increased to offer 6 hours on a single charge from the earbuds and a further 30 hours from the wireless charging case. Not only are the earbuds IPX4-rated, but now too is the case itself.
Naturally, they're designed with iPhone owners in mind, particularly those looking for a more tailored listening experience (for those who are happy with Apple sound without all the bells and whistles, the AirPods 3 make a fine alternative).
On the audio front, Apple has included a new H2 chip with custom amp and driver that delivers better lower and higher frequencies, and you can use the iPhone's TrueDepth camera to create a personalised spatial audio sound to listen to some of the best Dolby Atmos sound in any pair of earbuds. Noise cancellation is double what the last pair of AirPods Pro offered, and it is among the best we’ve yet to see, period.
Read the full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds had incredibly big shoes to fill, as the previous XM4 were long considered one of best pairs of earbuds money could buy. Fortunately, the XM5 offer improvements across the board. They're smaller and lighter, yet offer a much stronger performance. Their sound is perhaps the most dynamic and engaging we've yet heard, and noise-cancellation is on par with that of the Bose and Apple pairs above.
We would have liked to have seen an improvement in battery life, but considering they've shrunk a fair amount, the fact Sony has managed to keep it the same is still commendable. You also get LDAC support for higher-quality music, adaptive listening model, support for Google and Alexa voice assistants and a high level of EQ customisation. Call quality has thankfully improved, too.
It was never going to be an easy feat, but the Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are by far the best Sony has ever produced.
Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review.
Samsung’s ANC holds its own against the category best and blocks out close to 90% of ambient noise. The updated design also provides improved comfort and noise isolation. Each earbud houses three mics to block out external sounds at the highest level and soften wind presence, which the mic array does extremely well in combination with the wind shield.
It’s disappointing to see Samsung’s noise-cancelling models provide short ANC playtime. Sound alone makes the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro worth the investment, though, giving you a high quality audio experience and compelling 3D sound with precise head tracking. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a stellar option to consider and have excellent mic quality for calls too.
Read our full Samsung Buds 2 Pro review.
How to choose the best noise-cancelling headphones for you
The first item to check off the list when shopping for the best noise-cancelling headphones is active noise cancellation, which shouldn’t be confused with passive noise cancellation. What are the differences?
Active vs. passive noise cancellation: ANC uses advanced circuitry and microphones to pick up noise signals and create inverse waves that cancel out these sonic disruptions, whereas PNC physically isolates high-pitched sounds through the headphone design and materials. Most headphones advertised with noise cancellation are categorised under ANC.
Battery life: Noise-cancelling headphones have a reputation for sucking up lots of power, so you’ll want a pair that holds a charge long enough to get you through a long business flight or weekly commutes. Thanks to the arrival of Sennheiser's Momentum 4 Wireless over-ear headphones, battery life standards have increased up to 60 hours, although more typical figures are anywhere between 15 to 30 hours. Noise-cancelling wireless earbuds are usually rated for 4.5 to 8 hours.
Sound quality: ANC technology can compress sound and reduce dynamics, which may affect audio performance when turned on. In some cases, you’ll notice a background hiss when listening to music. However, there are noise-cancelling headphones out there that limit these disruptions to deliver full, crisp sound.
Design: The look, build and feel of a pair of headphones is massively important when selecting the best noise-cancelling headphones, so consider how it looks and feels and whether the style is right for you. The type of headphone is also important when it comes to the most effective noise cancelling models. Over-ear headphones tend to give the best noise cancellation, though some of the more recent wireless on-ear and in-ear models are proving to be just as effective.
Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best noise-cancelling headphones. Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on a pair of headphones the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear, or the sound quality is poor.
As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favourite models are being discounted by online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our best headphone deals page to keep track on the latest price drops.
How we test the best noise-cancelling headphones
We've judged the best noise-cancelling headphones on several factors: audio performance, battery life, Bluetooth range, call quality, comfort and fit, and the effectiveness of the noise cancellation. We also weigh up special features, such as included apps, and how easy they are to use.
During the testing phase, our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for 2 hours at a time throughout the course of a week, to test comfort over time.
ANC, meanwhile, is tested in both indoor and outdoor environments where ambient sounds are produced at high levels. This includes airplanes, city parks, convenience shops, offices, and public transportation. ANC headphones programmed with transparency modes are also tested thoroughly to determine how well the listener can hear their surroundings.
For sound quality, we listen to many different sample tracks and span as many music genres as possible, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical and R&B, while evaluating volume, clarity and fullness. Find out what we listen for during our testing process and how to get the best headphone sound for you.
And now that more streaming music services are offering high-resolution audio, be sure to read our audio codec FAQ for all you need to know about FLAC files, MP3s and everything in between.
Once we complete our testing, we rate headphones based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product hits nearly every mark, it’s awarded an Editor's Choice badge.
Contributions from: Alex Bracetti, Simon Lucas
More: Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
Next: We're maintaining a separate list of the best noise-cancelling earbuds as well as the best over-ear headphones.
Plus: Many ANC headphones can even help you get a better night's sleep by blocking out disruptive sounds while you're getting some shut-eye.
